Eden

Eden's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in average age, health and marriage.

The population passed 50,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Eden increased by 5.6%, from just under 49,800 to 52,600.

The addition of almost 2,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Eden was home to, on average, 0.18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it England's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Eden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Eden increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 15% of people in Eden are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Eden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the North West's largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, Salford saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 10% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011).

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) households in Eden had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 27% to 24%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Eden residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.9% to 4.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Eden residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Eden decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Eden, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Eden

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Eden, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Eden, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of married people in Eden fell from 58% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.9% to 10%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Housing in Eden

The percentage of households that owner their home fell here, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Eden, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 73% in 2001 to 71% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 68% to 63%.

Across the North West, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 69% to 65%.

Private renting in Eden increased from 13% to 16%, while the rate of social housing increased from 9.7% to 10%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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